U.S. patent number 4,534,628 [Application Number 06/440,757] was granted by the patent office on 1985-08-13 for hinge for mounting spectacles.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Paget et Morel. Invention is credited to Michel Morel.
United States Patent |
4,534,628 |
Morel |
August 13, 1985 |
Hinge for mounting spectacles
Abstract
The hinge comprises an elastic return mechanism (8, 12, 13) for
the side (5) towards its normal open position, said mechanism being
positioned concentrically in the side (5). The elastic return
mechanism comprises an envelope (8) which abuts against a spring
(12) positioned inside an external casing (13) which is able to
slide on the envelope (8). Beyond the normal open position, this
casing moves back while sliding around the envelope (8) and causes
compression of the spring (12). The envelope (8) which is
integrated with the side (5) directly abuts against the spring
(12), or a stopping member (16) is interposed between the envelope
(8) and the spring (12), this member (16) being integrated with the
side (5).
Inventors: |
Morel; Michel (Morbier,
FR) |
Assignee: |
Paget et Morel (Morex,
FR)
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Family
ID: |
9264281 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/440,757 |
Filed: |
November 12, 1982 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Nov 20, 1981 [FR] |
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81 21926 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
351/153; 16/228;
351/121 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02C
5/2227 (20130101); Y10T 16/526 (20150115); G02C
2200/26 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G02C
5/22 (20060101); G02C 005/22 (); G02C 005/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;351/113,121,153
;16/228 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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3039557 |
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May 1981 |
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DE |
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1183993 |
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Oct 1957 |
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FR |
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Primary Examiner: Bovernick; Rodney B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lackenbach Siegel Marzullo Presta
& Aronson
Claims
I claim:
1. In an improved hinge for mounting a side of a spectacle frame
which allows said side to open beyond its normal open position and
also allows its elastic return into said normal open position, with
said hinge having a mounting knuckle attached to that part of said
spectacle frame supporting the lenses and a co-operating side
knuckle supported by said side; said improvement comprising an
elastic return mechanism positioned concentrically in said side
comprising an envelope enclosing said side from its end and
abutting against an elastic return means positioned inside an
external casing which is capable of sliding on said envelope, said
external casing further abutting against said mounting knuckle in
said normal open position and, when opened beyond said normal open
position, said external casing being capable of moving back by
sliding on said envelope so as to cause compression of said elastic
return means; and thereby retaining substantially the same side
thickness as a comparably sized spectacle.
2. A hinge according to claim 1, in which said mounting knuckle is
female and said side knuckle is male.
3. A hinge according to claim 1, in which said elastic return means
comprise a spring.
4. A hinge according to claim 1, in which said elastic return means
comprise an elastomeric filling material.
5. A hinge according to claim 1, in which said envelope is
interrupted by directly abutting against said elastic return
means.
6. A hinge according to one of claims 1 or 5, in which said
envelope is integrated with said side by screwing, and an inside
thread of the envelope being screwed onto a threaded end of the
side.
7. A hinge according to one of claims 1 or 5, in which said
envelope is integrated with said side by screwing by means of a nut
moulded in said envelope.
8. A hinge according to one of claims 1 or 5, in which said
envelope comprises at least two independent parts, one of which is
a covering nut which is screwed onto a threaded end of said
side.
9. A hinge according to claim 1, in which said envelope is
interrupted by abutting against said elastic return means by means
of a member interposed between them.
10. A hinge according to claim 9, in which said interposed member
is a stopping member, integrated with said side in order to stop
said elastic return means in a positive manner.
11. A hinge according to claim 10, in which said stopping member is
integrated with said side by forming a shoulder in a cut made in
said side.
12. A hinge according to claim 11, in which said stopping member
comprises a disc which rests against said elastic return means and
is in contact with a tube containing split conical pincers, said
split conical pincers blocking said stopping member on said side by
forming a shoulder in said cut.
13. A hinge according to claim 1, in which one or the other of said
knuckles is adapted to force said external casing to move back,
compressing said elastic return means during passage of said side
into an intermediate position between being open and closed.
Description
This invention relates to an elastic type of hinge for mounting
spectacles, i.e., it allows the side of the spectacle frame to
extend beyond the normal open position and allows the elastic
return thereof into this position.
This type of hinge is known to be popular in that it reconciles
comfortable wearing, without the risk of hurting the ears (as would
be the case with too tight a mounting), with an adequate support,
without the risk of sliding (as would be the case with too loose a
mounting). Moreover, these hinges facilitate the putting on of the
spectacles.
However, they do have quite considerable disadvantages which
essentially include an encumbrance which detracts from the
aesthetic aspect of the pair of spectacles, especially if they have
thin sides. In fact, these hinges are relatively thick and are
joined onto the side, generally on the inside. Another disadvantage
arises from the fact that a hinge of this type is complicated,
comprises numerous delicate parts and is expensive to produce.
The present invention, on the contrary, proposes a hinge which,
while being of an elastic type, does not essentially affect the
thickness of the side, and comprises a small number of simple
elementary parts. This hinge comprises two knuckles, one of which
is attached to the part of the spectacle frame supporting the
lenses and the other is supported by the side. The elastic return
mechanism is positioned concentrically in the side and comprises an
envelope covering the side from its end.
In order to clarify the following description, the knuckle which is
attached to the part of the spectacle frame supporting the lenses
will be termed the "mounting knuckle", and the knuckle which is
supported by the side will be termed the "side knuckle".
The envelope is interrupted by abutting against elastic return
means positioned inside an external casing which is able to slide
on the envelope. This casing is profiled to be able to abut against
the mounting knuckle in the normal open position and, beyond this
position, to be able to move back by sliding around the envelope,
thus causing compression of the elastic return means.
The knuckle which is attached to the part of the spectacle frame
supporting the lenses may be the female knuckle, while the male
knuckle is supported by the side or, conversely, the male knuckle
may be attached to the part of the spectacle frame supporting the
lenses with the female knuckle supported by the side.
The elastic return means may comprise a spring or a natural or
synthetic elastomeric filling material, and the envelope may be
produced in one or more parts.
The external casing which slides on the envelope may be square,
cylindrical or any external shape. This external shape is simply
dictated by aesthetic preferences. On the inside with respect to
the side, the casing has a slit for the passage of the side
knuckle. It is profiled depending on the shape of the mounting
knuckle.
In a first embodiment, the envelope directly abuts against the
elastic return means. In this case, the envelope must be integrated
with the side, which may be effected during assembly by any means,
for example by gluing or screwing.
In a second embodiment, the envelope abuts against the elastic
return means by means of a member which is interposed between
them.
In a variant, the member, is floating between the return means and
the envelope, and the envelope is integrated with the side as
indicated above.
In another variant, the member is a stopping member, integral with
the side in order to stop the return means in a positive manner.
There is no further functional necessity for the side and envelope
to be integrated, although this is clearly desirable to avoid all
sliding movements during use. Light gluing is sufficient.
A return member of this type advantageously comprises several
parts, for example a disc resting against the return means while
being in contact with a tube. This tube contains split, conical
pincers which are blocked on the side by a cut made therein.
The present invention will be more clearly understood by referring
to the accompanying drawings which illustrate non-limiting examples
of embodiments of the hinge according to this invention. In these
examples, the mounting knuckle is female and the side knuckle is
male.
FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional view of the mounted hinge, the side
being straight in the illustration before the optician produces the
curvature depending on the morphology of the customer. It is in the
normal open position.
FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of the hinge of FIG. 1, along
line A,A', in the direction of the arrows.
FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of the hinge of FIG. 1, along
the axis B,B', in the direction of the arrows.
FIG. 4 illustrates a side view, from the inside, of the hinge of
FIG. 1, according to arrow C.
FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional view of the hinge of FIG. 1, along
line D,D', in the direction of the arrows.
FIG. 6 illustrates an identical view to that of FIG. 1, the hinge
being drawn out and the side being in an open position beyond the
normal open position.
FIG. 7 illustrates another method of attaching the envelope to the
side.
FIG. 8 illustrates an identical view to that of FIG. 1 in the
variant with a stopping member.
FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate views of the split conical pincers, a
constitutive element of the stopping member illustrated in FIG.
8.
FIG. 1 illustrates a female knuckle 1 (in two parts as will be seen
later on in FIG. 3), with a screw 2 for attachment to the part of
the spectacle frame supporting the lenses. A male knuckle 3 is
attached to the female knuckle 1 by an attachment screw 4 and is
extended by side 5. This side 5 is terminated by a threaded end 6
and, at the level of the joint with the male knuckle 3, comprises a
reinforced part 7.
The side 5 is covered by an envelope 8 which, in the case in
question, is composite. It comprises a metallic reinforced part 9
and an end which is also metallic and is used as a covering nut 10
and is attached to the threaded end 6 of the side 5 by its inside
thread 11.
As mentioned above, the envelope 8 may comprise a single part which
is produced, for example by injection, and is threaded inside to be
screwed onto the threaded part 6 of the side 5. In a variant, this
envelope 8 may be glued onto the side 5.
The reinforced part 9 of the envelope 8 abuts against a spring 12
housed inside an external casing 13. This casing 13 comprises a
part 14 of a large internal diameter which is to slide outside on
the reinforced part 9 of the envelope 8. The casing 13 also
comprises a part which has a smaller internal diameter in order to
produce an internal shoulder 15 against which the spring 12 comes
to rest.
FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section along line A-A', and shows the
casing 13 and, inside, the side at the level of the male knuckle
3.
FIG. 3 which illustrates a cross section further up along the axis
B-B', shows the female knuckle 1 in two parts joined by the screw
2, and also shows the male knuckle 3. The attachment screw 4 joins
the two knuckles and the casing 13 is in the top position.
FIG. 4 which is a side view according to arrow C shows the female
knuckle 1 with its two parts joined by the screw 2, and shows the
male knuckle 3. The casing 13 is also shown, as is the screw 4
which joins the female knuckle 1 and the male knuckle 3.
FIG. 5 which illustrates a cross section along line D-D' shows the
side 5 inside the envelope which is illustrated here by its
reinforced metallic part 9. The casing may be seen on the outside
at the level of the part 14, which has a large internal diameter
and is capable of sliding around the envelope.
In FIG. 6, the side of the spectacles has been moved beyond its
normal open position. By rotating about the axis represented by the
screw 4, the casing 13 has passed its abutment position against the
female knuckle 1 and has been forced to move back in the direction
of arrow f. As a result of this movement, the part 14 of the casing
slides around the reinforced part 9 of the envelope. The shoulder
15 which is the rest point of the spring is thus also displaced in
the direction of arrow f. Since the envelope (reinforced part 9) is
integral with the side 5, it does not move and thus it is the
spring 12 which is compressed, its available volume decreasing.
Thus, a restoring force is produced which tends to return the side
in the direction opposite to arrow f and, by a pivoting movement
about the screw 4, tends to return said side into its normal open
position.
It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the degree to which
the nut 10 is screwed onto the threaded part 6 of the side 5
directly affects the available volume of the spring 12, thus also
affects its tension and, consequently, affects the restoring force
of the side towards its normal open position. The nut 10 is
therefore a means of adjusting the elastic restoring force.
It is the same in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 in which the
envelope 8, all in one block is moulded onto the nut 10 which
receives the side 5. This nut 10 has surface roughnesses, for
example longitudinal ridges to prevent it turning inside the
envelope.
FIG. 8 which reverts to the references of FIG. 1 illustrates a
stopping member 16 which is integrated with the side 5. This
solution is preferable to that of a floating member, to avoid the
violent expulsion of all the parts when the envelope 8 is unscrewed
from the side 5, voluntarily or not.
The stopping member 16 comprises a disc 17 which rests against the
spring 12 and is in contact with a tube 18. This tube contains
split conical pincers 19 which are blocked on the side 5 by a cut
20 made therein.
In assembly, by threading the envelope 8 onto the side 5, the
member 16 advances, the tube 18 squeezing the pincers 19. When the
pincers 19 arrive at the level of the cut 20, they close over it,
forming a shoulder. The pincers 19, and thus the member 16 as a
whole, can no longer move backwards. It is blocked on the side.
The covering nut 10, as shown, is not indispensible. In fact, no
attachment is necessary at this level and it is possible to rely on
the frictional forces between the envelope 8 and the side 5.
However, in practice, a light gluing is at least carried out.
FIG. 9 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the split
conical pincers 19, the angle of conicity of which is
advantageously from 1.5.degree. to 5.degree., for example
3.degree.. These pincers 19 comprise a shoulder 21 which is to take
up a position in the cut 20 provided in the side 5. The slit 22
give the pincers 19 the necessary elasticity for them to be
threaded and displaced on the side 5.
FIG. 10 which is a view from below (FIG. 9 seen from right to
left), shows the elements of the previous Figure.
In a modification which is not shown in the Figures, the female
knuckle 1 and/or the male knuckle 3 are not cylindrical and have
one or more bosses acting as a cam. In this way, the casing is
forced to move back during the passage into the intermediate
position between the normal open position and the bent back
position. Thus, a compressive force is produced in the spring which
renders the intermediate position unstable. While trying to expand,
the spring tends to return the side towards the one or other open
or bent back position. Thus, a mounting has been produced for the
automatic open or closed positioning of the sides.
The simplicity of the hinge according to the present invention will
be appreciated as it comprises a minimum number of parts, all of
which are standard or are easy to machine. Moreover, the hinge
cannot detract in any way from the aesthetic aspect of the
spectacles due to its small thickness and to its concentric
position on the side.
In conclusion, the other embodiment should be recalled in which the
knuckle attached to the part of the spectacle frame supporting the
lenses is male, while the female knuckle is the one supported by
the side.
* * * * *